Peer Support Worker - Perinatal Mental Health

at  Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The Northamptonshire Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) is welcoming applications for a part time Band 3 Peer Support Worker (25 hours per week).
We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a Peer Support Worker to join the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service. Successful candidates will have lived experience of perinatal mental health conditions and have undertaken a recognised peer support worker training course such as the IMROC Peer support training.
We are pleased to be working towards supporting fathers and partners of women. Fathers and Partners will shortly be offered an assessment and signposting to services who are able to support with any identified emotional wellbeing and mental health needs and our Peer Support Workers will play an integral role in the delivery of this ambition.
The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service works with women and birthing people who are at an increased chance of experiencing or are experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions during pregnancy and after having a baby. It is a Multi-disciplinary service that has successfully embedded Peer Support Workers who have developed an extremely well evaluated 1:1 and group offer and we are now in a position to expand this offer further. In addition to 1:1 and group support, our Peer Support Workers are able to offer a lived experience insight alongside other interventions including medical, psychological and Nursery Nurse interventions. The service works closely with Maternity, Health Visiting, GP’s, statutory community services and 3rd sector organisations. The Service operates across the county, with office bases currently in Northampton and Rushden and we have restarted working within children’s centres and community settings as well as continuing with some online delivery. PSW’s form an integral part of the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service and will work under the supervision of the Specialist Occupational Therapist/Operational Manager and NHFT Peer Support Co-ordinator. The successful candidate must have lived experience and/or experience of supporting people who have experienced of one or more perinatal mental health conditions including Depression, Anxiety, Perinatal OCD, Birth Trauma, Postpartum Psychosis or Bipolar disorder.
The SPMHS is a Multidisciplinary service that works closely with Maternity, Health Visiting and Primary care services and has grown significantly over the last 5 years.
There is a developing peer support worker network within the Trust and there are national SPMHS support groups for peer support workers. Successful candidate will be greeted by a compassionate team who work as part of a Trust that places particular importance on staff wellbeing and development.
NHFT welcomes applications from people, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy or maternity status.
Peer Support is based on the recognition that there is no better person to support the path towards recovery than someone who has walked the same path as that individual. The role of Peer Support Worker (PSW) has been developed specifically for people who have lived experience of mental health challenges. Through sharing wisdom from their own experiences, PSW’s will inspire hope and belief that recovery is possible in others. As an integral and highly valued staff member, PSW’s will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to pregnant women, mothers and birthing people to enable them to regain control over their lives and their own unique recovery process
Building safe, trusting relationships with others based on the sharing of lived experience.
Enabling others to discover and make use of their strengths as well as building and enhancing connections with their peers and the wider community.
Supporting 1:1/group based emotional support for people who have experienced mental health conditions during the perinatal period.
Supporting the co-design and co-facilitation of support groups.
Attendance and contribution at team meetings.
Contribution towards the development of the service.
Promoting peer support amongst women open to the SPMHS and contributing to the development of women’s involvement and participation.
Liaising and working with 3rd sector organisations where appropriate.
Offering supportive conversations and signposting to support to fathers and partners of women who may be experiencing mental health difficulties in their own right
The PSW’s will engage with women and birthing people open to the SPMHS to show empathy, share experience, inspire hope and promote recovery with the aim of assisting women to gain and maintain independence in the community.
The post will also involve both co-producing and inputting into training to other professionals, ensuring the voice of lived experience is at the heart of education and training about perinatal mental health conditions and treatment approaches. Applicants should have successfully completed a recognised Peer Support training course and have lived experience of perinatal mental health conditions. A comprehensive induction package will be provided in addition to education and training about Perinatal Mental Health.
If you want to work as part of our expanding specialised multi-professional team, we want to hear from you.
Please ensure you read the job description and person specification attached and that your supporting information reflects the relevant skills and experience you have, as your application will be shortlisted against these criteria

Please refer the Job description for details